Oops, your beautiful prom dress arrived, but it’s a tad too snug. Prom dress is too small, don’t panic! Here are some tips to help you fix your dress and still look fabulous on your special night:
Most dresses that are only a couple of sizes too small can be enlarged in particular areas by letting out seams or adding fabric. Usually, gussets or panels are added, depending on the type of dress. If your prom dress is too small, the best course of action is to take it to a professional tailor or seamstress to have it altered by letting out the seams, potentially adding panels of fabric to the sides or back, or creating a lace-up back feature to allow for more flexibility depending on how much extra room you need;
Before altering, check seam allowances, assess how much extra fabric is available in the seams, as this will determine how much the dress can be let out without compromising its design. Smaller prom dresses alteration options include:
- Side seams: Most commonly, a tailor will let out the side seams to create more space.
- Back panel: Adding a lace-up panel to the back can provide a more adjustable fit.
- Insert panels: In some cases, inserting additional fabric panels along the side seams might be necessary.
How to make a dress bigger without letting it out?
- Check the Fabric: If your dress is made of a stretchy fabric, you might be able to stretch it slightly to fit better. Be cautious not to stretch the fabric too much, as it may damage the material.
- Accessorize Strategically: Draw attention away from any areas of discomfort with a bold necklace or earrings.
How To Make A Prom Dress Bigger In The Bust?
A dress that needs to be bigger in the bust won’t zip up all the way, or it may barely zip up but be very restricting and pull the armscyes forward.
- Typically the way to fix this problem is by adding a gusset. Notice, the gussets should also added to the lining.
The best way to make the bust of a dress bigger is to add diamond gusset to the side seams. This method allows you to add material without removing sleeves, and without changing the waistline or neckline. The gusset will start right under the armpit, and end at the waist seam. - If your dress has a side zipper, you can add the diamond gusset to the back of the dress. And also to the front of the dress. It won’t look very good unless it is covered. So to avoid unaesthetic, try to add a lace layer over top of it to hide the seams.
- You can disassemble the bodice and spice it, then rebuild it with additional fabric or paneling to make it larger.
How to Make A prom Dress Bigger In The Waist?
Keep it in mind that any alteration you make to the waist will be more visible than one on the back or side seam bust area.
If your dress bodice has darts, you can let them out to make the waist bigger.
Add a diamond gusset to the side seam with the widest portion of the diamond at the waist line.
How to Make A Prom Dress Bigger In the Hips?
Sometimes a form fitting prom dress need to be fixed large around the hips. There are a few options for adding circumference to the hips such as:
Adding panels, triangle gussets (or even godets) to the side (and/or back) seams, all the way down.
Letting out the side seams.
Detaching the skirt from the dress, adding a front panel, and reattaching it with a gather at the wais to add panels to make the skirt bigger for the hips
Detaching the skirt from the dress, shortening it by cutting off material from the TOP of the skirt, and reattaching it with a gather. (The bottom of the skirt is usually larger, and may have enough room for the hips).
Purchasing matching material and converting the skirt portion of the dress into a ‘tiered’ ruffle style skirt to add width to the hip area.
How to Make Prom Dresses Bigger at The Zipper?
If your dress almost fits but just won’t totally zip up, your first instinct might be to assume that it needs to be bigger at the zipper.
But the truth is, if your zipper won’t close, the issue is best solved at the side seams, NOT the zipper!
You can diagnose if this is the case if the zipper seems like it would zip at the top, but just not at the middle where the bust line is.
Bring the zipper closed with your hands. If the top of the dress meets and would zip, then you should consider adding fabric to the side seams.
If the entire zipper is inches apart, then you will need to make your dress bigger at the zipper by converting it to a lace up back (like a corset) or adding a large panel to the back.
Sometimes, shifting the location of zippers or closures can provide extra room in the dress. For example, moving a back zipper to the side may allow for more width in the garment.
How to Make A Prom Dress Bigger By Adding Fabric?
If the entire dress needs to be bigger, adding fabric can be the perfect solution. The process of adding fabric can range from simple adjustments to more intricate techniques, depending on the dress’s style and your sewing skills.
When you carefully add fabric to a dress, it still looks beautiful and keeps its original style. The key is to pick a fabric that goes well with what your dress is made of and how it looks.
By adding pieces of fabric here and there, you’re not just making the dress bigger but also adding a special touch.
- Before you begin the process of making a dress bigger by adding fabric, it’s essential to have accurate measurements
- Always double-check your measurements to ensure they are precise before adding any fabric.
- When choosing fabric to add to your dress, consider the original fabric’s weight, pattern, and texture. Using a lighter or lighter fabric can result in an unbalanced or awkward appearance.
- You should also select a fabric that complements the original dress, whether it’s a matching color or a contrasting pattern.
- Evaluate Seams: Identify existing seams in the dress where additional fabric can be seamlessly integrated. You can adjust the dress seams to provide extra room in the bodice, waist, or hips. Stitching these additions neatly and securely is important to maintain the overall look and durability of the dress.
- Invisible Extensions: Choose fabric matching the dress, ensuring a cohesive look; insert panels inconspicuously in side seams or along the back zipper.
- Gussets for Movement: Add triangular fabric inserts, known as gussets, in areas requiring more movement, like underarms or the sides of the bodice.
- Lace or Insets: Incorporate lace or decorative insets strategically for both functional and aesthetic enhancement.
- Functional Buttons or Snaps: Create functional buttons or snaps along seams for easy adjustment and removal if needed.
Time is key.
Don’t wait until the last minute to get your dress altered, as tailors can get very busy around prom season.
It’s crucial to do this as soon as possible to ensure enough time for alterations before your prom date.
What to do if alterations are not possible?
In some cases, especially if the dress is too small and altering it significantly is not feasible, you may need to consider redesigning the dress entirely by using the existing fabric or adding new fabric.
If the dress cannot be altered enough to fit properly, you may need to look for a new prom dress.
Maybe you also interested in checking: What To Do If Prom Dress Is Too Big?
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